page_title: France–Germany relations
section_title: Early interactions
hierarchical_section_title: France–Germany relations / History / Early interactions
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Empire de Charlemagne et son démembrement au Traité de Verdun en 843. En rose&#160;: Royaume de Charles le Chauve. En vert&#160;: Royaume de Lothaire. En jaune&#160;: Royaume de Louis-le-Germanique. English: The parting of Carolingian Empire by the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Pink area indicates West Francia.Green area indicates Middle Francia.Yellow area indicates East Francia.
context_page_description: The relations between France and Germany form an integral part of the wider politics of Europe with both countries being founder and leading Member states of the European Union and its predecessor the European Communities since its inception in 1958 with the signing of the Treaty of Rome.
  General relations between the two countries since 1871, according to Ulrich Krotz, have had three grand periods: 'hereditary enmity', 'reconciliation' and since 1963 the 'special relationship' embodied in a cooperation called Franco-German Friendship.
  In the context of the European Union, the cooperation between the two countries is immense and intimate. Even though France has at times been eurosceptical in outlook, especially under President Charles de Gaulle, Franco-German agreements and cooperations have always been key to furthering the ideals of European integration.
  In recent times, France and Germany are among the most enthusiastic proponents of the further integration of the EU. They are sometimes described as the "twin engine" or "core countries" pushing for moves.
context_section_description: Both France and Germany track their history back to the time of Charlemagne, whose vast empire included most of the area of both modern-day France and Germany – as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and northern Italy.
  The death of Charlemagne's son Louis the Pious and the following partition of the Frankish Empire in the 843 Treaty of Verdun marked the end of a single state. While the population in both the Western and Eastern kingdoms had relative homogeneous language groups (Gallo-Romanic in West Francia, and Low German and High German in East Francia), Middle Francia was a mere strip of a mostly blurring yet culturally rich language-border-area, roughly between the rivers Meuse and Rhine – and soon partitioned again. After the 880 Treaty of Ribemont, the border between the western and eastern kingdoms remained almost unchanged for some 600 years. Germany went on with a centuries-long attachment with Italy, while France grew into deeper relations with England.
  Despite a gradual cultural alienation during the High and Late Middle Ages, social and cultural interrelations remained present through the preeminence of Latin language and Frankish clergy and nobility.
caption: The Carolingian Empire, as divided in 843
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